Only on the outside. On the inside, excluding the touchscreen the interior of the Tesla 3 (and really, all Teslas excluding the original Roadsters) has more in common with a Yaris or 90s era Kia then a Model 3 or entry-level Lexus.
For people with multiple cars, it's not much of an issue for things to be just a little off (the plastic, the handles, the seat fabrics, steering wheel alignment, shavings on the dash board, etc.)--the Tesla is a show car and treated as such. For people who would use the Model 3 as their primary vehicle, the experience is subpar for its current price point compared to all other vehicles in its class (entry level luxury vehicles) or engine type (other EVs) and this is one of the difficulties Tesla will run into once it actually starts public shipments of the car. There's enough competition out there now that being an electric isn't enough to justify a premium price; the car has to have premium interiors as well.
Source: my boss has all of them. I ride shotgun quite frequently.
I hear this argument against Tesla all the time (disclaimer: I own a Model S). I used to own a BMW 3 series and an X5. Tesla, IMHO, is a far superior car. Interior materials is just one aspect of the car. But a car is a complete package. And Tesla overall gives you much more - an infotainment system that is 100x better than an awful BMW iDrive (or my Hyundais system), monthly software updates, no dealership model, constantly improving autopilot systems, an amazing supercharger network, minimal options package (BMW will charge you for LED lights on 7series), free LTE, free Supercharging (atleast for me), a minimalist interior, huge cabin space etc. etc. I would take a Tesla Model S any day over a 7 series or S class. And a Model 3 any day over a BMW 3 series. A 328i is a 4 cylinder underpowered vehicle that comes with a manual parking brake, a tiny screen, and hundreds of useless controls. Then you have to buy a million option to make the car half decent. And my 335i would break down every other month.
Yes, this is exactly right. I was astonished the first couple times I rode in a Tesla at how downmarket the interiors feel compared to your middle of the road German luxury cars like a BMW 3-series or equivalent.
I think you're wildly overestimating the sophistication of car buyers.
Luxury car buyers, fundamentally, are buying the logo, and the handful of obviously markers inside the car that tell people it's a Lexus or whatever. They aren't buying fit and finish, even if they think they are. Tesla buyers are no different: they want a Tesla, not a Lexus or a Mercedes.
I'm sure to the trained eye a Lexus has a different build than a Tesla, just as cheeses and wines are different. That's not what drives sales.
I don't think you're taking into consideration what people want out of a commuter car. The Model 3 isn't targeting luxury buyers anymore--it's targeting upper middle class drivers looking for a commuter car that will function as their primary day-to-day vehicle.
They want comfort, first and foremost. A Tesla nameplate means nothing on your daily commuter car if it's not pleasant to drive. A Lexus or a Mercedes, even at the entry level, provides a comfortable ride. The interiors feel luxurious. A Tesla does not. And that's the problem--it charges an entry-level luxury price but doesn't provide an entry-level luxury ride. Subjectively, I find that the Tesla's interiors aren't even as comfortable as the Bolt, and I'm not even including the many QC issues they have in that assessment.
The Tesla name might bring potential buyers to the dealership, but when you're targeting a road warrior, the interior is what sells the car.
I dunno. I mean, I want a Tesla (a little) and I don't want a Lexus or Mercedes in particular. I think you're overgeneralizing. Markets are big, the "people" in your first sentence aren't the same population for Tesla buyers and Lexus buyers.
For people with multiple cars, it's not much of an issue for things to be just a little off (the plastic, the handles, the seat fabrics, steering wheel alignment, shavings on the dash board, etc.)--the Tesla is a show car and treated as such. For people who would use the Model 3 as their primary vehicle, the experience is subpar for its current price point compared to all other vehicles in its class (entry level luxury vehicles) or engine type (other EVs) and this is one of the difficulties Tesla will run into once it actually starts public shipments of the car. There's enough competition out there now that being an electric isn't enough to justify a premium price; the car has to have premium interiors as well.
Source: my boss has all of them. I ride shotgun quite frequently.